u/ffffhhhhjjjj

I used to work in schools before the pandemic and during the pandemic until 2022. I left right before they dropped mask mandates in my state since I was able to find a work from home job and had been trying to leave schools for obvious reasons.

Well fast forward four years and it’s all wearing on me. If there was no Covid I would not stay at this wfh job, I hate it so much. It’s monotonous, it’s lonely, it’s draining, and frankly it’s much more work than I imagined “wfh” to be. I hate work in general, but being in schools (I was working elementary) was the one workplace I felt a modicum of fulfillment. And before Covid I think ultimately I was going to go back to school to get a teaching degree.

I feel completely absurd complaining about a wfh job during a pandemic but here I am. This job is a dead end, go nowhere job, I’d like to be in schools again and working with people and kids, and I’d like to continue where I left off.

So I ask: what is teaching and college like these days? I’d be doing graduate likely part time so I wouldn’t have to deal with dorms or anything like that. And in terms of teaching I’ve heard horror stories lately but I’m not too worried about kids these days or parents or money (I did some research I’d likely be making essentially the same amount I’m making now starting out). My main concern is Covid. Will I be ostracized for masking in class (college and work I suppose)? Will I have trouble finding a job as a cc elementary teacher? Will the kids be okay with me masking? And do you think I’m doing something absurd by going into a less safe career when I have a wfh job rn? Is this just “grass is always greener” “I wish Covid never happened” thinking from a disgruntled wfh worker?

Idk it’s been 6 years and this thing is clearly not going anywhere and it’s all wearing on me.

Hey y’all, going to go to the dentist and ortho for the first time in like 3 years. Wondering what if any precautions you all take, other then getting the first appt of the day. Also what precautions you take when getting a haircut, though I’m less worried about this since there’s a mask I can wear for that, I’ve done it before. Thanks

Glad to see so many articles calling this out

They don’t make it so I’m unable to see the road like these headlights do, but they do seem overly bright.

What prompted this question: me and my dad are currently doing some family history research on his dad’s side of the family. We’ve found out that nearly all of his Irish ancestors came over around 1830 and were around that time all living in rural Pennsylvania near Altoona. He sent me something today, an article written 1882 about the lives of Irish canal workers in that area. What intrigued me most however was when he talked about some of the food they ate. He didn’t talk very extensively about the food, only mentioned a couple things, but he mentioned potatoes (obvious), poultry (obvious) and then mackerel. The mackerel really jumped out at me since they’re in rural inland Pennsylvania in 1830, but the guy who wrote it had grown up in the area and was writing from first hand knowledge, and he didn’t blink an eye at writing “mackerel” so surely there was some way to get it.

So that’s my question- how would these people procure mackerel in rural inland Pennsylvania in 1830? Was it salted? Cured in some way? Any answers are appreciated, thanks

Mind you, “more people masking” does not mean “a significant number of people masking,” it’s still mostly only me, but I think there are two things that are notable about seeing a few more people masking on average: 1) the time of year, and 2) not only is it more people masking but it’s different demographics from the general demographics I see masking.

It’s May 1 tomorrow and although it’s still a bit chilly around here, we really have entered the “preparing for summer” period. Usually the little masking I see during the winter completely drops off in the spring and I’m the only one I see masking until fall/winter comes around. But this year I’m seeing more people wearing masks than I did even this winter.

And second, most of the people I’ve seen masking in the past few years have been elderly, maybe a couple 40-50 year olds here and there. I’m early thirties and I’m the youngest person I see masking. However this year I’ve seen a girl who looked to be in high school with her dad masking (and of course her dad was not masking). I’d say half the time I go into a store there’s about one worker masking, usually looking to be around my age. Which as I say, not significant, but even just last year this statistic was much worse. I saw two women who also looked to be around my age, maybe a bit younger, masking. But the thing I saw today that prompted this post - I was driving and I saw a crossing guard masking. She was masking outside! Now I don’t know this subs opinion on if it’s necessary it is to mask outside, at least when it’s not very crowded, but the fact she was masking outside shows a level of caution for I assume Covid - I suppose there are other reasons she could’ve been masking - that I have not seen since 2020. I’m pretty sure that, other than me, that’s the last year I’ve ever seen anybody masking outside. These are all sort of one off things, and really there’s still not significant masking, but even just seeing this small reversal of the trend of the past few years gives me a bit of (possibly unwarranted) hope. Has anybody seen anything similar? Feel feee to burst my bubble if you haven’t.